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IFWEA MONTHLY BULLETIN August 2006 |
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Welcome to the August edition of the IFWEA Bulletin. We apologise for the long gap in production while we’ve been busy re-organising the Secretariat, moving into a new permanent office, and launching new project activities. Please note our new contact details: Postal address: 227 Royal Exchange, Manchester M2 7DD, United Kingdom Phone: +44 161 819 1200 Fax: +44 161 819 1222.
Projects and activities International
Programme on ‘Organising in the Global Economy’ We are pleased to report that the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the American Solidarity Centre and the National Labor College have thrown their full weight and commitment behind this project. Having initially supported the project consultation process they have now committed funding to kick start the programme. This includes part participant funding for the first face-to-face seminar. At the moment there are two key elements of this project underway, securing a European funding partner and planning a curriculum development workshop where we collectively explore the finer details of the programme. Further information from crystal.dicks@ifwea
Organising the
Informal Economy in Eastern & Southern Africa This Department for International Development (DFID) funded project aimed at promoting and supporting the effective democratic organisation and representation of workers in the informal economy within Southern and East Africa is now fully underway. We have just concluded a meeting of regional stakeholders in Malawi, followed by the first of the regional training workshops. These included participation from unions, federations, relevant global union federation representatives, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and labour NGOs from Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya and Zimbabwe. We are concluding the report of this workshop, a manual (in 3 languages) for trade union organisers and informal economy worker representatives, and plans for national partner meetings; which will include plans for piloting the manual locally. Further information from crystal.dicks@ifwea.org or mikechungu@yahoo.com
Education on
Informal Economy Workers’ Rights This is a new DFID project aimed at building awareness and support among British trade unions for the organisation of informal economy workers in developing countries. It will have relevance and application beyond the United Kingdom (UK). We will produce resources for educators to undertake trade union education provision, including a series of seminars on key issues related to the informal economy. With this partnership project we will work more closely with the Transport and General Workers Unions (T&G), affiliated unions of the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), the UK affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the Workers' Education Associations and residential colleges in the UK. War on Want, unions and associations in India, Ghana and Zambia, and other international organisations involved in informal economy workers' organisation will also be involved. Further information from crystal.dicks@ifwea.org
The Global
Network This Solidar coordinated project in Africa, Asia and Latin America continues its phase of consolidation. A recent review of the project has been concluded, a website is being coordinated through Plades and plans for the next period are being finalised. These include a few large-scale activities for the World Social Forum in Nairobi in January 2007, in particular the launch of a campaign around decent work. Further information (including extensive reports produced by the regional coordinators) from ian@solidar.org
Towards an
International Labour Media Network This Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) funded project is underway. A recent workshop in Cape Town aimed at exploring common approaches and practical cooperation around the use of information technology led to the establishment of a Preparatory Committee tasked with setting up an International Labour Media Network (ILMN) for sharing web-based resources for broadcasting, publishing and other educational purposes. The Preparatory Committee has as its key task the production of a feasibility study on the technical and organisational implications for establishing the ILMN. Further information from martin@wwrp.org.za
Highlights from the regions Africa region: Key activity in the region has focussed on the DFID Informal Economy project (reported earlier) and the work of the Global Network. There have been 3 national seminars organised by the Global Network in the region thus far in 2006. Further information from mikechungu@yahoo.com or saliem@lrs.org.za
Americas region: Aside from the key activities of the Global Network the region has also been involved in discussions on the rebuilding of the derailed Free Trade Area of the Americas as part of the 3rd People’s Summit. There was also a joint IFWEA-ORIT regional seminar on Transnational National Council’s and trade unions in Latin America, held in Lima. Further information from jcvargas@plades.org.pe or pepemsz@plades.org.pe.
Arab region: Two new project activities are currently underway; one is a UNISON supported project focussed on building the capacity of the region through tackling HIV/Aids in the workplace, campaigning for the protection of migrant workers' rights and the organisation and representation of workers in the informal economy. A second project supported by the Ford Foundation will be looking at training of trainers within the region. Obviously the current situation in the region is likely to cause disruptions to project activities over the next period. (See action points for an urgent appeal from the region). Further information from Hasan Barghouthi extr@dwrc.org
Asia region: A key activity in the region has been the pre-WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong, which debated labour rights in China and the relationship with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Other major regional activity has been focussed around the Global Network. Further information from elizabeth@hkctu.org.hk or rey.rasing@learn.org.ph
Europe region: Two new projects are underway: Uniting Humanity, in partnership with the UK-based Scarman Trust; and a new project in partnership with Istituto Sindicale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (ISCOS-CISL) supporting global development education in EU accession states. Both projects draw extensively from International Study Circle experience. Meanwhile, further discussions on the future development of Euro-WEA are planned during its Annual General Meeting to be held in Stockholm in November. Further information from joe.holly@ifwea.org
Within affiliates and partner organisations Well done to the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)! At the end of what they have described as a "long road", SEWA has been admitted as a member of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). International Restructuring Education Network of Europe (IRENE) Seminar. This ICFTU supported International Seminar looking at the protection of domestic workers is being planned for the 8-10 November 2006 in Amsterdam. The seminar will focus on developing strategies to make domestic work a key issue both at the ILO and within trade unions and will hopefully also serve as a platform for further initiatives. Further information from AvLuijken@irene-network.nl Culture et Liberté creates space for debate. Culture et Liberté has recently launched a call for all popular education movements to take part in creating a space for debate among European citizens. The aim of this appeal is to create a space for ‘constructive participation’, particularly amongst those voices that are often not heard. The platform is open to as many people as possible and it is hoped that this will lead to building networks within the EU. Culture et Liberté is appealing for various popular education movements in the EU to take an active part in the organisation and facilitation of debates within the EU. For further information visit the website www.culture-et-liberte.asso.fr or contact Joël Jamet on cel.international@nnx.comGLU launches a newsletter! The Global Labour University has produced their first digital newsletter. The newsletter is aimed at informing all current and former participants and partners of GLU developments and special events. It is hoped that it will support GLU students, organisers and partners in maintaining contact and exchanging information. The first edition is filled with updates on the second Masters Course (including experiences and impressions from both current students and lecturers); news on the University of Kassel ‘s 2007 launch of a postgraduate college on social governance of globalisation for PhD students; and the ‘launch’ of the second campus within the GLU, the University of the Witwatersrand Masters Programme on ‘Labour Policies and Globalisation’ starting in January 2007. For further information visit the LPG website on http://www.global-labour-university.org or e-mail LPG@ilo.org
At the Secretariat We welcome new staff to the IFWEA Secretariat: Crystal Dicks re-joins us to work full-time as an Education Projects Officer, based in London, and David Brookes has joined us part-time as IFWEA’s Finance Officer, based in Manchester. Dave Spooner is now employed full-time by the Transport & General Workers' Union in the UK. The union has generously agreed to release him for some of his time to continue responsibilities for IFWEA. The IFWEA secretariat has therefore now five mostly part-time staff members:
New affiliates as of June 2006:
Welcome!
Action points Trade unions and labour organisations in Palestinian (including our affiliate, the Democracy & Workers’ Rights Centre) has made a call for all trade unions, labour organisations and other civil society organisations to take urgent action in support of their cause for an end to Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Further information from Hasan Barghouthi extr@dwrc.org. As all affiliates must be aware, IFWEA depends on affiliation fees for its continued survival and development. If you have not yet paid your 2006 fees, please do so as soon as possible. For payment details, contact accounting@fivebrookes.com. The next IFWEA General Conference is due to take place in October 2007. Detailed arrangements will be agreed at the forthcoming Executive Committee meeting in Stockholm (November 10-12), but in the meantime, if you wish to propose major themes or ideas for discussion, please contact dave.spooner@ifwea.org.
Forthcoming events
Dave Spooner This Monthly Bulletin is produced from the IFWEA Secretariat. Contributions and news from affiliates and fraternal organisations are most welcome. Please send all items to crystal.dicks@ifwea.org.
International Federation of Workers'
Education Associations |
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